HomeMy WebLinkAboutBo & Jo Bowman 200 Joliet Rd. JUL ~1 2002
P.O. Box 1327
Columbus, MT$9019 CITY OF LAUREL
Hon. Bud Johnson, Mayor
City of Laurel
P.O. Box 10
Laurel, MT 59044 July 30, 2002
Re: Clark's Camp
Dear Mayor Johnson and City Council Members:
I am writing this letter on my personal letterhead so that my comments will in no way be
construed to represent the opinions of my employer, a nearby county which I serve as planning
director and floodplain administrator. However, I have recently come across a copy ora letter to
you dated July 17, 2002 that concerns the Clarks' Camp property south of the Yellowstone River.
As a professional, I am compelled to respond.
The letter was authored by the owners of the Clark's Camp resort, and it basically complains of a
difficulty in obtaining permission for a retail activity on the premises. The letter opens with a
cheap shot at your planning director, the first of several. That reminded me of Proverbs 17:26,
which tells us "it is unwise to punish an innocent man, and to flog a public official for doing his
duty."
The cheap shots continued throughout the letter. Its overall tone was incredibly whiney.
I understand that the property owners are working with Montana DEQ, through Yellowstone
County, to obtain approval for an RV park with a septic holding tank. From my understand'rog of
how floodplain management works in Montana (and it works rather well), I suspect that DEQ
may deny the proposed holding tank for the RV park. But the existing buildings should
absolutely not be permitted for occupancy without a viable septic system. To do so would set a
precedent with overwhelming statewide implications.
The buildings were constructed in utter disregard of the need to first obtain permits. The site is in
the 100-year floodplain for the Yellowstone and Clark's Fork Rivers, and possibly also in the
floodway for both. If the latter is true, then the buildings should never have been built there and
the proposed RV park is also inappropriate.
I applaud you for holding your ground in the face of those who feel that rules were not made for
them. I also urge you to stand behind your employees who refuse to cave in to difficult people
who think they can get anything they want simply by throwing their weight around. I have never
met Cal, but when I do I will shake his hand. If appropriate, I might offer to buy him a stiff drink.
Sounds to me like he's earned it.
Sincerely~ __
CC: Jim Kraft, Yellowstone County Floodplain Admires' trator
Yellowstone County Commissioners
Cal Cumith Laurel Planning Director
Ted Kylander, Yellowstone City-County Health Dept.
Laurel Outlook
Karl Christians, MT Floodplain Coordinator